760 Academies to Be Shut Down as Punjab Tightens School Safety Rules

LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced the closure of 760 academies and tuition centers in Lahore following a tragic school roof collapse in Baghbanpura that claimed the life of a child and injured several passersby.

During his visit to the accident site, the minister described the incident as a case of serious negligence. He said the school administration had begun expansion work on a newly acquired building and removed the concrete slab support before the required curing period had been completed, leading to the collapse.

According to the minister, an Education Authority inspection team had visited the building 15 days earlier and issued a warning to the school management. Despite this, the administration reportedly removed the slab supports after only five days instead of waiting for the recommended period.

Rana Sikandar Hayat said the school had also failed to inform the Education Department about the building extension. The district administration has since demolished the structure after declaring it unsafe.

The minister further announced that 13,000 schools across Punjab have been directed to obtain building fitness certificates. He also made it mandatory for all new schools opening from September to secure a fitness certificate before starting operations.

Parents were urged not to enroll their children in unregistered private schools. The minister also questioned why a summer camp was still operating despite the official end of summer camps on June 30.

Following the incident, two Deputy DEOs and two AEOs have been suspended for alleged negligence, while a detailed investigation remains underway. The minister vowed strict legal action against anyone found responsible, stating that no one would be considered above the law.